Flight Friendly Lithium Batteries
In this blog, we’re going to talk about one of our customers who recently had a horrible experience at an Italian airport. As someone who has travelled with a mobility scooter many times before, she was fully aware of the procedures. However, on this occasion airport security prohibited her from talking the lithium battery on the flight.
In the IATA guidelines it states that “Where the battery is removed by the user, if the mobility aid is specifically designed to allow it to be, following the manufacturer’s instructions, the battery must not exceed 300 Wh, or for a device that is fitted with two batteries required for its operation, each battery must not exceed 160 Wh.”
On this occasion, the customer had a flight-friendly battery which was under 300 Wh and presented the (MSDS) Material Data Sheet at the airport, as she had done many times before. Airport security advised that the ‘rules had changed’ which wasn’t the case. We suspect that staff may have got mixed up with the section which says if a person is carrying two batteries ‘each must not exceed 160 Wh’ or had been misinformed.
Cavendish Health Care are the country's leading expert in travel scooters and lithium batteries and will always advise clients of the up to date regulations and will provide documentation allowing you to travel with peace of mind.
We truly think that this was an isolated incident and nothing to do with a specific airline. By adhering to the IATA’s Battery Powered Wheelchair and Mobility Aid Guidance Document you shouldn’t have any issues. This information is important to know, especially when a person is dependent on a mobility scooter to get them around.
On that note, we must reiterate that it is ALWAYS the customer's responsibility to seek permission and inform the airline of any mobility equipment being taken on a flight especially when the products are fitted with lithium batteries and of course proof of compliance is of paramount importance.
Please note that each airline has different guidelines, so it is crucial to confirm details prior to booking the flight.
In most cases taking a lithium battery on a plane shouldn't be an issue. As the leading supplier of portable mobility scooters and flight friendly batteries, Cavendish Health Care & Mobility at Sea can provide the advice you need. If you have any questions or have had similar experiences, please don’t hesitate to call our friendly and professional team on 02392 255600.